This might be the artifact find of the year. A mint condition 1920's era Easy washing machine made in Syracuse, New York. This was found by the Glenview Park District's own Mike Moorman while vacationing in northern Michigan. Mike and his wife were checking out a antique mall and he noticed this washer. Because Mike knew I have been looking for an old washer for the farmhouse he called me to see if I was still interested. The poor Moorman's had to lug this very heavy washer in their van for the rest of their vacation. (Mike wins the Above and Beyond Award!)
In doing a little history on the machine it seems that the company won the highest award in the kitchen exhibit during the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition. Powered by a 1/6 horse power motor it could agitate, spin and rise clothes. Because of it's efficient design the company grew rapidly and by 1923 was called the best of the home laundry manufacturers in the world. By 1936 the company celebrated selling $100,000,000 worth of washing machines. The pinnacle of the Easy company was in 1948 when 474,831 machines were sold. The company was sold to Union Chemical and by 1963 they cease to exist.
We are currently doing some minor clean up and hope to have the machine out on the exhibit floor soon. Amazingly, we plugged it in and it still works!
Thanks Mike
